I began writing for Forbes in 2010. It was just as the economy was starting to perk up and a fascinating time to cover the stock market, which I did for three months until I switched beats in September 2010. Now I contribute to the Leadership channel, with a focus on jobs and careers–-another hot topic in a time when people are vigorously hunting for jobs or desperately trying to hold on to the ones they have. I have a BA from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in journalism from Hofstra University. Follow me on Twitter @JacquelynVSmith, subscribe to me on Google+, or email me at jsmith [at] forbes [dot] com.

The Best- And Worst-Paying Sales Jobs

If you have that magical mix of skills and personality that a career in selling requires, you may be able to earn yourself a six-figure salary as a real estate broker or a sales engineer–but not all sales positions are nearly that glamorous and high-paying.

Selling securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, for instance, pays five times what being a cashier pays, on average. And those are both sales jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics‘ Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, they are the very best- and worst-paying sales jobs in America.

The BLS survey, which reflects May 2010 salary and employment data, calculates annual pay by multiplying an hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” 2,080 hours. According to the results, securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents rake in $95,130 a year, on average. However, some make well over $150,000.

There are 276,290 of them, and they are responsible for buying and selling securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or for selling financial services to businesses and individuals. The best states for this occupation: New York and Connecticut.

With close to 40,000 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, New York has the highest employment level for the occupation. New York is also the second highest-paying state for the job. These salespeople earn $129,620 a year in New York – and even more in Connecticut, where they make $157,640.

Sales engineers, sales representatives for wholesalers and manufacturers of technical and scientific products, and first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers are also among the highest-paid salespeople in America. Sales engineers bring in $94,760 a year, while those sales reps and supervisors earn average annual salaries of $84,360 and $81,120, respectively.

At the other end of the sales job spectrum, cashiers earn a meager $19,810.

The 3,354,170 people who work as cashiers are the lowest-paid salespeople in America. They earn an average hourly wage of $9.52, although in Washington, the highest-paying state for them, they make $11.46 an hour, for an average annual salary of $24,210.

Gaming change persons and booth cashiers are the second lowest-paid salespeople. They earn $24,420 a year, on average, or $11.74 per hour. In Texas, the highest-paying state for that job, they make $31,400.

Retail salespeople trail close behind in the No. 3 spot, earning average annual pay of $25,000. More than 4 million workers hold a retail sales position, and they do the best in D.C. ($28,330).

“The low-paying sales jobs are very transactional, low value, and low risk, while the best-paying positions require a higher knowledge base, they’re riskier, and the salespeople are generally more consultative,” says sales expert Tim Wackel, founder and president of the Wackel Group, a training and consulting firm. “Also, the people in the low-paying sales jobs are usually selling a product, whereas the high earning salespeople are selling a solution.”

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I’ve worked in the hotel sales business for year (selling groups, events, IBT accounts) I started at 48 thousand and bonus. After seven years I was earning close to 100 plus bonus. My best year was 140 thousand, but that was my best.

Most people have no idea that hotels need sales and catering people. Every hotel hires about 1-8 more sales folks. I suggest people get started entry level at ahla.com ecornel.com or aprinda.com

Hotel Sales jobs can earn 100K after 4-5 years, plus bonus. But you have to start at 40-50K plus bonus to get started. It’s a fun career where you sell blocks of rooms and meeting and meeting space to meeting and event planners. I like being able to work in nice surroundings and not have to make hard sales.

People seem to like to hear about a hotels luxurious rooms, restaurants, banquet facilities, local attractions. If you want to get an entry level job you can do ahla.com ecornell.com and aprinda.com

(either one works and has different pricing…couple hundred) It did for me, and I am currently over 100K per year.

Most people don’t know you can earn 100K or more in hotel sales. My best year was about 187 thousand….yes a good year. Most start at 40-50K plus bonus and work there way up. About 90L is possible after 4-5 years. You can start online with a certificate at ecornell or aprinda.com

I’m very interested in hotel sales. I visited both e-cornell.com and aprinda.com. (Aprinda’s hotel sales certificate program is more in line with my budget.) Is ecornell’s hospitality marketing certificate the program to consider for a career in hotel sales? It’s obviously the more expensive choice but would the ecornell certificate make getting a job in hotel sales easier than the much less expensive aprinda hotel sales certificate?

I’m curious as to how “average” yearly compensation is being calculated here. The low-end sales positions appear to be right on the mark in terms of annual earnings.

However, I know quite a few sales representatives in the high-end of sales, generally selling solutions consulting in IT, network security, supply chain development, and related areas. I have yet to meet one who didn’t make at least $200K a year. Most concede that they wouldn’t do it for anything less.

All of those “average” earnings on the high-end seem exceedingly modest. Your thoughts, fellow readers?

I have spent the better part of over thirty years in automobile sales. There is not one aspect of the car biz that is not challenging, exciting and monetarily rewarding. The big three businesses that will always be in demand are food, housing and transportation. Transportation is only last, alphabetically, as you need transpotation to get the work to support the other two necessities. These are the mainstays of society. I lived on half of my excellent earnings and invested in residential income property with the rest. I used to kid strangers when they would ask me what I do I would say ” I’m in Housing and Transportation” Oh, by the way, don’t expect to reach the top of any profession without passion and hard work. thirty to forty hours a week is for part timers…

Couldn’t agree more with you. Thirty to Forty hour weeks are for part timers, or the occasional down week. Those who put in the hard work and effort in their careers while carrying a passion for the job are the ones who are successful.

Two other big business markets that will continue to be in demand are health care and technology.

Marriott – Hilton – Doubletree -Holiday Inn…….each hotel hires 1-10 or more sales people that earn entry level 40-60K. Advance within 2-5 years to 70-100K plus bonus. Sales jobs can even lead to the General Manager job that earn 100-200K plus. I made 187K plus my best year but never went for a General Manager job.

You don’t need a college degree, but it doesn’t hurt. Lots of my friends are at the 100 -200K level and did not have degrees.

Get an online certififate, which will help alot and is not expensive. Try ahla.com www.ecornell.com or www.aprinda.com

The numbers for Securities and Commodities sales are not even close to representative of the earning potential. I personally know people in Sales and Trading (on the Sales side) who make 500K a year, and they are in their late 20s and early 30s. These average figures are worse than useless if you include mutual fund salesmen at the local bank branch.

I am in to Comp/ Soft engineering. Sales is cool. It beats the ” x + years ” of experiences most jobs require in order to reach high end six figure or more salaries. It’s a game changer to strategically start up your own company. Jacquelyn Smith , I am trying to buy why your report is different from this report by monster: http://career-advice.monster.com/salary-benefits/salary-information/highest-paying-sales-job/article.aspx

How about hospitality. you can start entry level at 40-60K plus bonus and advance to the Director of General Manager earning 60-200K plus bonus. Each hotel employes 1-10 or more sales people. Google hcareers for lots of joblistings

It takes approximately 4-6 years to get to the Director of Sales jobs, sometimes less, sometimes more.

Many advance to General Manager working through the ranks, starting at the front desk, or bellmen, or entry level as a sales rep.

Google Aprinda hospitality or hcareers for online certificates to start in hotel sales or catering

Thats what i came to this post for. Being a former retail employee. I say that it had to be near the top of the worst-paying sales job list. My earnings were just above minimum wage which doesn’t amount to the work. Back-stock , sales , and store maintenance.

Hello, i’m 15 years of age and i am amazed by the occupation of trade and entrepreneurship. My question to you is as of now , and for the next following years to come, what subject or trade seems to be making the most money for people ?.

“Selling securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, for instance, pays five times what being a cashier pays, on average. And those are both sales jobs.” Uh-um, how is it that a cashier is a sales job?